S. to Frederick Douglass, April 23, 1855

FROM OUR BOSTON CORRESPONDENT

The Passage of an Act regulating the weighing of coal—A lawyer tampering with the jury—The Census—Weather—Dr. Lowell—The Nunnery Committee – Passage of the new Liquor Bill Judge Loring, ect.

Boston, April 23, 1855

Frederick Douglass, Esq.: Dear Sir—Our Legislature has passed an acr in relation to the sale of coal, requiring every person who sells coal to furnish the buyer, with a certificate from a sworn weigher. It will be remembered that ther have been many frauds in the sale of coal during the past winter. Deacon Foster, a colored man, who has seen his "three score and ten" years, bought his winter's coal (three tons,) and placed it in a box that just held three tons. The box was about two-thirds full. The deacon politely called upon the dealers and informed them of the fact, and it is said that he threatened them with an exposure. A compromise was effected; the deacon got his three tons, scripture measuro, "heaped up, shaken together, and running over," "free gratis, for nothing, without no pay." Coal has been $9 per ton all winter, and it has been found necessary to devise some measure to secure the public against fraud.

On Wednesday, in the municipal court, during the trial of a liquor case, William H Perrin, Esq., a young lawyer, was charged with tampering with the jurors. Mr. Perrin made an apology, and the District Attorney apologized for him. On Thursday, Mr. P. put in a deposition, to the effect, that he did not intend to influence the jury, or to show any disrespect or contempt of court. What he said was not with deliberation; that his remaks were ill advised and unintentional. and fully acknowledged that he had commigtted an indiscretion. Mr. C. J. B. Moulton, one of the jury, said that the gentlemen on the panel felt that their rights had been trifled with, yet they did not wish to prosecute the matter further, as they recognized Mr. Perrin as a young lawyer, and they were not desirous of injuring his reputation—Judge Hoar thought the matter a grave one, and held him under $500 bail from day to day. On Friday morning, the Court passed the following order;—"And now, upon mature consideration, it is considered and adjudged by the Court, that the said Wm. H. Perrin is guilty of mal practice as herein before set forth, and it is ordered that he be suspended from practicing as an attorney and counsellor i this Court, until the first day of June next.

The Board of Aldermen have passed an order to take the census this year. the population in 1850 was 138,781. There are only about 9,000 colored people in the State.

The Secret Ballot Law was defeated in the Senate on Friday

The weather here continues cool overcoats are still quite comfortable.

Rev. Dr. Lowell has written another letter in relation to Paul's epistle to Philemon, in answer to some remarks upon that subject in Dr. Adams' book. We very much regret that so much notice has been taken of Dr. Adams and his book it only increases the sale of it, and we presume that the Doctor's main hankering has been for the "filthy lucre." The first edition of that infamous book has already been exhausted, and the second is finding a ready sale. Let us cease to notice him and his book, and they will die out, John Mitchel did.

A State Temperance convention will be held in this city, in Tremont Temple, on Tuesday, 8th of May. The intention is to have a mass Convention of the friends of prohibitive legislation.

The Legislative Committee appointed to inquire into the conduct of Mr Hiss, concluded that "they cannot say that they have obtained that indubitable evidence which would authorize the conclusion that Mr. Hiss, on his late visit to the city of Lowell, was guilty of any conduct which canb be pronounced criminal." This is a very tame report, and falls to exonerate Mr. Hiss. It was accepted by the House, and an order was passed that the investigating Committee should report the evidence. The Legislature the resolved itself in Committee of the Whole, and agreed to sit with closed doors. This prohibited us from giving you the substance of the testimony. We consider it an affair altogether unworthy of a legislative body.

The new law closing up barber shops, daguerreotypes, saloons, &c., on Sunday, went into effect yesterday, and was strictly enforced.

The new Liquor Bill passed the Senate and was signed by the Governor on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Let astrologers make note of this, and govern themselves accordingly

Judge Loring's case is now under consideration in the Senate. The final vote on his removal will be taken on Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock.

Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons for the State of Massachusetts, will celebrate the Anniversary of John the Baptist's birthday in the old cradle of Liberty—Faneuil Hall.

S